Nitrates in newer reef tank

[jeannet30]

I am having trouble controlling my nitrates in the tank. I have some live coral and about 12 fish - damsels, angel, and the rest I don't know their names. My sea anemones (3) have died.
Water changes done. I don't see any lowering of nitrate levels.

I was given Bio Chem Zorb to add to the tank. I am reading the label and it doesn't say anything about a solution to nitrates.

Do you have any suggestions

[dfs/la2]

jeannet30,

We appreciate the opportunity to assist with your questions. Bio Chem Zorb is primarily formulated to remove dissolved organics and heavy metals in the water. To help remove nitrates, we recommend making sure that your filtration system is being properly maintained, as well as performing regular water changes.

Another excellent way to reduce the nitrates is by using a removal product such as Nitrate Sponge, which can be found at the following link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4914&prodid=9158&catid=3

If you would please provide us with the sizing of your aquarium, as well as the current nitrate levels, we would be happy to help give further suggestions.

Mike S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

[jeannet30]

My tank is 144 gallons with about 100 pds of live rock and two bags of live sand. All was going well until I did my first filter change. All levels were excellent.
I have added charcoal to my Fluval filtration system as suggested. My nitrate levels are at the next to highest level in the chart that came with the testing kit.
There seems to be a cleaner tank than before the charcoal was added but there is still some things floating around.

[dfs/la2]

jeannet30,

We would recommend frequent water changes of 10% once a week with prepared saltwater using Reverse Osmosis water to help reduce the amount of nitrates in the aquarium. The use of Nitrate removers will also help to reduce these high levels as well.

You are able to use items such as:

De-Nitrate (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4180&Ntt=de%2Dnitrate&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1)
Kent Marine Nitrate Sponge (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4914&Ntt=kent%20marine%20nitrate%20sponge&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1)
Seachem Purigen (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4190&Ntt=seachem%20purigen&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1)
Renew (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4187&Ntt=renew&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1)

We would be more than happy to discuss your aquarium in detail with you if you would like to PM us with your contact information including your phone number.

We look forward to speaking to you soon.

Joyce F.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster & Smith

[jeannet30]

My contact details as follows.
My time is a little difficult. I am Pacific Daylight Time zone. I leave for work at 8:00 a.m. and don't return until 6:00 p.m. so it is difficult to reach me.

Carol Proseus
209-359-1208
I have just purchased, the thing that you suggested in your last message. I am going to use the Bio Chem Zorb that I already purchased this weekend. I will try the 10% water change weekly. I am thinking that when I did the filter change that I did something wrong with the protein skimmer. I bought a brush to scrub out the tube. There is a lot of debris. I will also reread the instructions to see if I have everything back together correctly.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Carol

[sslak]

Just my 2 cents but 12 fish sounds like a lot for such a young tank. If you don't even know what they are how can you care for them?

Also, the death of the anemone(several?) would almost certainly explain the nitrate problem. Any time something dies in your tank it begins to decompose very rapidly due to the warm temperature and the abundant light. Decaying tissue will surely increase your nitrates.

[jeannet30]

Thanks for your input. That does make sense. I knew what they were when I bought them. I have the person that set up the tank helping pick fish that would be compatible with the reef tank. Five of the fish are the damsels that we used to start up the tank after the first six weeks.
All but one survived because I put a hawk fish in next. He is super agressive. The remaining damsels have learned all of the cool hiding places.
I then put in the angel.
I put in a cleaning fish, don't know the name.
The next one is a blue fish with yellow fins, again I don't know the name
THe last is a large greyblue fish with a blunt face. It is very nice and looks at me through the glass.
All of the live coral is doing well.
I will change out the water 10% per day and put the new pounch with the filtering for nitrates.

Thanks for your concern

Carol